Understanding how people of different ages think about ratios

Cognitive Processes Underlying Ratio Representation Across Development

NIH-funded research Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11184212

This study looks at how people of all ages, from kids to adults, think about and use ratios in their daily choices and schoolwork, aiming to find out how these thought processes change when dealing with different types of amounts, which could help us improve decision-making skills in areas like money and health.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Piscataway, United States)
Project IDNIH-11184212 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how individuals, from children to adults, understand and use proportional reasoning in everyday decision-making and academic contexts. It aims to identify the cognitive processes that underlie this reasoning, particularly how these processes differ when dealing with discrete versus continuous quantities. By employing a developmental and computational approach, the study will explore the cognitive mechanisms that influence how people represent and process ratios across different age groups. This could help in understanding how to improve decision-making skills related to financial and medical risks.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation include children aged 0-11 and adults over 21 who are interested in cognitive development and decision-making processes.

Not a fit: Patients who are not within the age range of 0-11 or 21+ years old may not receive direct benefits from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance educational strategies and interventions aimed at improving proportional reasoning skills in children and adults.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in understanding cognitive processes related to reasoning, making this study a continuation of established work in the field.

Where this research is happening

Piscataway, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.